The switch will broadcast the data to all ports besides the one it got it from if the MAC address is not listed in the table.
The switch forwards the data out of that port after identifying the proper port for the target MAC address and updating its internal MAC address table to link the source MAC address to the port it was received on. As a result, the switch can quickly forward data between devices without being broadcast to the complete network.
Switches can carry out other tasks, including port mirroring, Quality of Service (QoS) priority, and VLAN (Virtual LAN) tagging.
While port mirroring enables a switch to copy all data traveling through one port and send it to another for monitoring or analysis, VLAN tagging allows a switch to group ports into virtual networks isolated from one another.
To guarantee they receive enough bandwidth and reduce latency, a switch can give certain kinds of data, such as VoIP (Voice over IP) or video streaming, a higher priority using QoS prioritization.
Network switches are vital to computer networks.
What is a network switch versus a router?
A network switch and a router are both networking devices used to connect devices on a computer network. While they may have some similarities, there are also some key differences between them.
A network switch works at the OSI model’s Layer 2 and sends data packets to the right device. It connects multiple devices in a network by using packet switching to send data to the right device.
On the other hand, a router works at Layer 3 of the OSI model, and its job is to send data packets between networks. It connects different networks using a routing table to determine the best path for data to travel between them.
The main difference between a network switch and a router is how they handle data packets. A switch forwards data packets within a network, while a router forwards data packets between networks.
Another key difference is the number of ports they have. Routers usually have fewer ports than network switches and are used to connect two or more networks. Network switches connect multiple devices within a network, while routers connect two or more networks.
In summary, a network switch is used to connect devices within a network, while a router is used to connect networks. Both play essential roles in modern computer networks and work together to ensure that devices and networks can connect quickly and reliably.
